Starting An Online Business for Dummies [Paperback]

Greg Holden (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764504649 | ISBN-13: 978-0764504648 | Publication Date: February 9, 1999

Directory of Online Business Internet Resources Inside!

Everything You Need to Know About Starting a Business Online! The Internet is changing the way we do business, and setting up a business in cyberspace today is easier than ever! With friendly, step-by-step instructions, Starting an Online Business For Dummies^® shows you how to establish a successful business presence online — right away and with low start-up costs. From choosing the right Web hosting service to preparing for the tax man, Greg Holden's expert advice is sure to help your online business thrive in the worldwide marketplace known as the Internet. Valuable Bonus CD Includes:

• MindSpring Internet Access
• Internet Explorer 4.0
• Trial Version of Norton Utilities 3.0
• Evaluation version of Paint Shop Pro 5.0
• Trial versions of QuickBooks accounting software and Maximizer 5.0 customer tracking and billing software.

Shareware programs are fully functional, free trial versions of copyrighted programs. If you like particular programs, register with their authors for a nominal fee and receive licenses, enhanced versions, and technical support. Freeware programs are free, copyrighted games, applications, and utilities. You can copy them to as many PCs as you like — free — but they have no technical support. System Requirements: 486 or faster PC running Windows 3.1 or later, or 68040 or faster Macintosh running system 7.5 or later; 8MB RAM (16MB RAM recommended for Windows 95 or later, or PowerPC Macintosh); CD-ROM drive double-speed (2X) or faster; Internet connection (14,400 bps or faster modem, or network — regular access charges apply).

Inside, find helpful advice on how to:

• Choose the right Web host and set up your virtual storefront
• Find the best software solution to build a winning site that gives you a competitive business advantage
• Choose the right software to make your Web site a safe and secure environment for business transactions
• Market your business effectively to millions of potential customers
• Locate online support, advice, and resources that will keep you ahead of the competition
• Learn from the successes and mistakes of other online entrepreneurs
• Understand the nuts and bolts of starting a business including business plans, government regulations, and accounting practices

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Make the most of VoIP, site feeds, blogging, and affiliate marketing

The newest, fastest ways to establish and promote a lucrative online business

It's never been easier to get an online business up and running! From identifying your market to building your Web site to attracting (and keeping!) customers, this friendly guide covers it all. You'll take advantage of the latest Internet marketing trends, secure your site, receive online payments, and deal with legal and tax issues — all from the comfort of home.

Discover how to:

• Draw up a cyberbusiness plan

• Acquire equipment and inventory

• Market to customers around the world

• Improve your search engine ranking

• Set up Amazon, Yahoo!, and other storefronts

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

About Greg Holden Greg Holden owns his own small business, Stylus Media, which has an Internet presence, and creates Web pages for other small businesses. He has written about small business and the Internet and is the author of IDG Books Worldwide Creating Web Pages For Kids & Parents^™ and Small Business Internet For Dummies^®.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (February 9, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764504649
• ISBN-13: 978-0764504648
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,606,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Basic information, but not hands-on enough, August 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Starting An Online Business for Dummies (Paperback)

This book offers a good introduction to what you need to start your own online business. All aspects of starting such a business is covered, and after I read the book I could proudly say I knew the how's (as well as what's), and I was on my way starting a business.

But there are two major flaws to this book: first, it's not very readable, and second, it doesn't give you enough hands-on information. There are superfluous step-by-step instructions on how to use FrontPage Express, but the author doesn't tell you much about building store fronts or how to accept credit cards online, two of the more pressing topics for someone wishing to start a e-business.

The CD is a big disappointment. Just a collection of demoware and shareware. It is an environmental waste and makes the book a little pricier than it should be.

68 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great book to get started with., August 13, 2001

By 

Ron G. Macari (Mississauga, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starting an Online Business for Dummies (Paperback)

The title of this book reads "Starting an Online Business for Dummies" and the book offers the novice Online business person an easy way to begin understanding the concepts behind much of today's Online business without overwhelming the reader. In many other books I've read, terms like, "Meta-tags","Banner Exchange","Keywords" and many other terms are used without the author of the book ever considering the fact that the reader may not be familiar with these terms, or bothering to explain them clearly. "Online Business for Dummies" takes the time to explain each new term which is introduced, and offers many clever anecdotes which not only keeps the reading enjoyable, but also helps the reader to remember and understand the concepts.

In our own Online business we used "Online Business for Dummies" to draw out a mind map which helped our tech oriented support staff to gain a better perspective on the typical support needs of novice Online business people.

If you are just starting out I couldn't recommend a better book to get started with. Learning the in's and out's of Online business is not a one step process, and I think that "Online business for Dummies" does a fairly good job of laying a foundation you can build on.

132 of 147 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars unimpressive, December 16, 1999

By 

N. Dimaio - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Starting An Online Business for Dummies (Paperback)

i realize the book says for dummies in the title BUT first off some of the things the book states about dreamweaver are not true and are not possible - i didnt open the cd because from reading the book you knew most of the cd was demos which you would have to take off of your computer in a month anyway - the only information i got from this book was basic business start up legal information - it kept referring to information i am looking for but it states it is not covered in this book but the small business internet for dummies - after reading this book cover to cover though i am very hesitant to purchase another book by this author - the information i need is probably just referenced to and really in a third book anyway - overall i was very unimpressed by this book

only buy this book if you are BRAND NEW to the internet - like you just got online for the first time last week and think maybe making money online might be for you THIS BOOK IS FOR BEGINNING BEGINNERS ONLY